Goa University Visiting Research Professors Programme D D Kosambi Chair in Interdisciplinary Studies in association with Goa University Alumni Association is hosting a public lecture by historian and biographer Ramchandra Guha on April 11. In conversation with NT NETWORK he speaks about the country’s current socio-political situations, education sector and why he will never watch an IPL match at the stadium
ARTI DAS | NT NETWORK
Q: Can you tell us in brief about the topic of your public lecture titled ‘Challenges to social well-being in India today?’
When India became independent, and for many years thereafter, a whole host of Western writers wrote off its prospects. Some thought India would descend into anarchy and civil war; others that it would become a military dictatorship; yet others that it would be beset by mass famine. India’s survival as a largely united and somewhat democratic country is a standing rebuke to these prophets of doom.
While taking a quiet pride in what we have achieved thus far, Indian democrats must yet be aware of the challenges we face and the tasks that lie ahead.
In my talk at Goa University I will speak of some major challenges, including growing inequality, the threat of religious violence, the rapid degradation of our natural environment (which hurts poor Indians most), and the corruption of our public institutions.
Q: How do you look at the current socio-political situation in the country where slogans like ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ defines your nationalism?
The 18th century British writer Samuel Johnson famously said that patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel. In 21st century India, patriotism is the first refuge of the incompetent. It is to draw attention away from their visible administrative and governance failures that some politicians have raised this issue of which slogans one can or must shout and which slogans one can’t or shouldn’t shout. It is no accident that non-performing union ministers and chief ministers have spoken most stridently on the subject of ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’.
Q: You recently made a statement that ‘Hindu fundamentalism is much more terrifying than Islamic fundamentalism.’ Please comment.
The quote you attribute to me originates in a typically selective and tendentious piece of reporting by a leading national news channel. What I said, during the Q and A session following a talk I gave in Delhi on contemporary history, was this: Globally, Islamic fundamentalism is a far greater threat than Hindu fundamentalism. Groups such as ISIS are barbaric and brutal. Within India, however, Hindu fundamentalism is more dangerous than Islamic fundamentalism, because Hindus are in an overwhelming majority in our country, and all studies show that, outside of Kashmir, Muslims and Christians suffer more than Hindus in sectarian violence. As a human being, I regard ISIS and other jihadist groups to be a threat to humanity. As an Indian, I regard Hindu fundamentalist groups to be a threat to Indian democracy and pluralism.
These are my views, in full and in context. I wish all journalists would be responsible in what and how they quote!
Q: How do you look at the future of education in our country as we are witnessing various issues in educational institutes, be it at FTII Pune, Hyderabad University or JNU, Delhi?
The HRD Ministry’s own recent rankings place JNU and HCU very high. FTII is the only quality institute of its kind in India. That is why the excessive political interference in the few decent academic institutions we have is deeply unfortunate. Bureaucrats and politicians should exercise only a broad, general, oversight when it comes to Central universities, not micromanage their activities and spy on what their students or faculty are doing. Only under conditions of intellectual autonomy can teaching and research flourish.
Q: Do you believe that we desperately need an intellectual discussion where there is room for dissent, rather than blame games and TRP based debates on news channels?
Social and historical processes and personalities are, like life itself, nuanced and complex. They cannot and should not be rendered in black and white. The abusive tenor of social media in India is not at all conducive to reasoned and constructive discussion. Nor are shouting matches on television. I wish our TV channels would showcase more ground-based reporting and less polemics or screaming within studios. Books and essays provide far more subtle understandings of Indian history and politics than Twitter or television. I would urge your readers seeking a deeper understanding of India today, to avail of the former rather than the latter.
Q: How do you suggest we develop an unbiased political view rather than leftist or rightist?
One can have political views. But these must be based on in-depth understanding, not personal or ideological prejudice. For example, despite being often asked to, I never comment on business or technology, since I lack expertise in these areas. Likewise, I never comment on novels, poetry or plays. I have spent a lifetime studying society and politics in India, and am therefore happy to comment on these subjects. Based on my studies, I do have certain definite political opinions. I thus believe that India must never become a Hindu Pakistan, that Indian society is traditionally hostile to caste and gender equality (which is why we must redouble our efforts to achieve this), that environmental sustainability is a crucial aspect of economic and social well-being, that democracy is better than dictatorship. But these political views, or biases if you will, are derived from years of study and research, so I can I think effectively defend them.
Q: What according to you is dangerous to democracy—curbing the freedom of expression of a citizen or rise in social and economical inequality?
This is a false choice. We need both to assure greater freedom of expression and to pursue, by democratic and non-violent means, greater social and economic equality.
Q: You’ve been a cricket writer; how you look at cricket leagues like IPL. Do you think it is killing the game as it is mainly driven by commerce?
IPL is steeped in cronyism and corruption. It is vulgar in its celebration of (often ill-gotten) wealth. It brings out all the worst features of our society. That Vijay Mallya could for so long own an IPL team while being such a massive financial defaulter and not paying his employees’ salaries shows how corrupt the whole tournament is. That despite the serious drought in Maharashtra, the IPL tamasha will go on in Pune and Mumbai shows how uncaring and unfeeling its promoters are.
I am a member of the Karnataka State Cricket Association, and as such have a reserved seat in all matches played at the KSCA Stadium in Bengaluru. But I have never watched an IPL match, and never will.
(The public lecture by Ramchandra Guha will be held on April 11 at 5 p.m. at Conference Hall, Main, Goa University on the topic, ‘Challenges to Social Well-being in India Today’. The talk is open to all.)